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From Jacó we drove southeast along the Pacific coast. The drive was pleasant and we only stopped only once, at the Río Hollin which produced a pair of Collared Plovers, some Northern Jacanas, two Roseate Spoonbills and some Blue-winged Teals, among other common shorebirds and wading birds. At around 1:30 in the afternoon we arrived at our home for the next two nights. Tucked away in the foothills and next to a gorgeous creek, this property which we had found on AirBnB seemed like just the perfect location to spend a few nights.
We had been informed that we could order meals at the Hot Springs Lodge. This building was located just down the road, and owned by the same people who had rented us the AirBnB property. It appeared that no guests were staying here at the moment, but we eventually managed to find the manager. Unfortunately, he had not been made aware of our arrival from the lodge owners and so he did not have the supplies to cook meals. Not a big problem for us since we had recently purchased groceries. It just meant that we would be stuck eating wraps for our next few meals! The property was also missing a few essential items that had been promised, but the setting was absolutely beautiful and we did not mind too much.
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| Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
We enjoyed a relaxed afternoon, complete with a swim in the crystal clear waters of the creek. Laura made use of the hammock for a siesta, while I explored here and there in search of birds. Without a doubt, the highlight was a reasonably cooperative Turquoise Cotinga that perched high above the house in the bare branches of a tree. Even in the terrible light, its electric blue plumage was unbelievable.
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| Turquoise Cotinga - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
The bird activity picked up a notch as the afternoon gave way to evening. Blue Ground-Doves provided nice views next to the house, a Little Tinamou sang from somewhere within the forest, and small flocks of tanagers and occasionally passed through the tops of the nearby trees. Melodious Blackbird, Olivaceous Piculet, Buff-rumped Warbler, Shining Honeycreeper and White-crowned Parrot were some of the memorable species for me.
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| Scanning for birds - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
It had been a while since I had set up my moth sheet and light and so I was eager to give it a shot. The visibility near the house was very good, and the surrounding gardens, creek, and secondary forest gave me hope that a solid diversity of species would show up.
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| Antiblemma neptis - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Hylesia sp. - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with the showing. Of course, we still found quite a few interesting insects, but the numbers and diversity did not match my expectations. Looking back now our results seem pretty good, at least when compared to the insect diversity that I see here in Ontario. I guess that Laura and I were just spoiled from some of our previous mothing exploits in Ecuador and Colombia!
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| Conchylodes bryophilalis - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
Tiger moths (Arctiini) are a highly diverse group of moths that seem to be well-distributed in the Neotropics. The shapes and patterns of these variable insects can be quite incredible, and most of the wasp mimics are a type of tiger moth. Below are a few which we encountered this evening.
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| Rhynchopyga flavicollis - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Unidentified tiger moth (subtribe Phaegopterina) - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Macrocneme sp. - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
Not all of the moths were that exotic looking. In fact, some genera that we see in Ontario are also well represented in Central and South America. Others, while belonging to a different genus, look rather similar to some of "our" species from back home. Below are a few examples.
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| Meganola bifiliferata - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Petrophila sp. - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Anomis sp. - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
Pearl Moths (subfamily Spilomelinae) are diverse in Ontario, and indeed they are also commonly encountered in Costa Rica. While the Ontario species are, with a few exceptions, various shades of drab brown, at least the Neotropical versions are fairly colourful.
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| Phostria dohrnii - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Syngamia florella - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Eulepte sp. - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
My favourite species of the night was not a moth. Instead, it was this truly awesome fulgorid planthopper called Odontoptera carrenoi.
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| Odontoptera carrenoi - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
Below are a few more of my favourite hoppers and beetles from the session.
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| Unidentified lady beetle (family Coccinellidae) - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Calyptoproctus sp. - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Alagoasa illigeri - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Oreodera glauca - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
I will finish off this post with a few more photos of moths. This moth thing, it is addicting I tell ya...
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| Prorifrons antonia - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Artace cribrarius - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Mursa phtisialis - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
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| Hypsopygia amoenalis - Hot Springs Lodge area, Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
Late at night there was one more avian surprise in store. The unmistakeable, hissing scream of a Barn Owl from close to the Hot Springs Lodge. Such a cool vocalization!
